Electrostatic pendulum clock



l. REINER 2,760,331

ELEcTRosTATIc PENDULUM CLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 28, 1956 Filed July9, 1953 I N ENTOR. [f1/mg e/Izer B M LM M (Aman.

/ TTORNE Y Aug. 28, 1956 2,760,331

ELECTROSTATIC PENDULUM CLOCK Filed July 9, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5ATTORNEY Aug 28, 1956 l. REINER 2,760,331-

ELECTROSTATIC PENDULUM CLOCK Filed July 9, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INI/@NTOR Vipg Kemer Erl-Anw IMM@ TTORNE Y United States Patent OELECTROSTATIC PENDULUM CLOCK Irving Reiner, New York, N. Y.

Application July 9, 1953, Serial No. 367,015

4 Claims. (Cl. 58-30) This invention relates to an electric clock, andparticularly to a battery-operated pendulum type clock. The inventionconstitutes an improvement in the type of clock disclosed in my PatentNo. 2,625,787 for an Electric Clock, issued January 20, i953, onapplication Serial No. 248,762, filed September 28, 1951.

The above-mentioned patent discloses a dry-cell battery constructed toprovide extreme long life and to be capable of delivering electrostaticcharges of relatively high potential to an oscillating conductor, theimpulses delivered to the conductor being mechanically transmitted tothe pendulum of the clock and being of such force as to overcome theforces of deceleration acting upon the pendulum. The patent disclosesthe application of the battery to clocks employing either a simplependulum or a torsion pendulum.

The present invention has particular application to clocks of the simplependulum type, although it is not necessarily limited thereto. It hasbeen found that when the impulse receiving member of the aforementionedpatent, that is, the insulated conductor which oscillates back and forthbetween the battery electrode contacts, is halted abruptly at each endof its path of oscillation by reason of the contact members beingrigidly fixed to the supporting framework of the clock, there is atendency for the shock of the sudden stop to be transmitted through theassociated mechanical linkage to the pendulum wire at the intermediatepoint along its length Where the forces tending to compensate for theforces of deceleration are externally applied. When the pendulum wire iscontacted by the force-delivering member before the full momentum of thependulum has been spent there is a tendency for the pendulum wire tobend at such intermediate point, thus in effect creating a secondarypendulum with a shorter pendulum arm extending from the point of bendingto the center of mass of the pendulum weight. This effect isundesirable, and in order to avoid it the electrode contacts of thebattery element must be critically adjusted.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide movableelectrode contact members which, when engaged by the oscillatingconductor member before the pendulum has reached its maximum distance ofswing, may readily be detiected from their normal position of rest andwhich will return to their normal position when the oscillating memberreverses its direction of movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rigid pendulum arm towhich the conductor member is rigidly aiiixed and which is rotatable inan oscillatory manner about a substantially frictionless bearing memberand is maintained in a slight condition of unbalance, such that balancemay be partially restored by the application to the oscillating memberof the forces resulting from the impulses delivered by the batteryelectrodes to the conductor. The electrode contact members are deectableby the pendulum, and when released from contact therewith return byforce of gravity to their normal position.

ICC

In accordance with the invention, I provide movable contact members atthe end of the adjustable electrodes, which contact members areelongated and are pivotally suspended from the electrodes so as to hangin a vertical position. When engaged by the oscillating conductor, themovable contacts are readily deflected against the force of gravity bythe slight remaining energy of the swinging or rotating pendulum.

In further accordance with the invention there is provided a rigidpendulum bar pivotally resting at an intermediate point along its lengthon a horizontal knifeedge, so that the pendulum bar may rock freely onthe knifeedge with a minimum of friction. The lower end of the pendulumbar is slightly weighted so that the center of its mass will be belowthe knife-edge, and the upper end of the pendulum bar carries a rigidlymounted conductor insulated from the pendulum and adapted to oscillatebetween the movable contacts picking up and delivering electrostaticimpulses of sufficient magnitude to overcome the forces tending to bringthe pendulum arm to a state of rest.

Por a fuller understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing description and claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this invention, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a simple pendulum clock, such as thatdisclosed in my Patent No. 2,625,787, to which the movable contactmembers of the present invention have been applied;

Fig. 2 is a rear fragmentary elevational view showing the clockmechanism as adapted for operation by a simple swinging pendulum;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the portion of the mechanism ofFig. 2 indicated by the line 3 3.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the cylindricalconductor and the forked mechanism which transmits the movement of thependulum of Fig. 2 to the pivoted bar which supports the cylinder fromthe clock framework;

Fig. 5 is a perspective elevational view of a clock embodying the rigidrotating pendulum of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the clock mechanism of Fig. 5,omitting the housing and battery elements;

Fig. 7 is a side sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of Fig. 6, with portionscut away to more clearly reveal the structural details.

Referring now to the drawings, the clock mechanism is shown supported ona base l1 of non-conductive material and enclosed within a casing 12which, for decorative purposes, may be of transparent material.

Two horizontally-spaced upright electric storage batteries 13 of the drycell type are secured at their lower ends to base ll. The batteries areelongated and extend vertically upward a distance sufficient to providesupport for the clock mechanism. The lower ends of batteriesv 13 areconnected by a at conductor strip 14 which may be positioned either ontop of or underneath the base il, the latter arrangement being shown inthe particular embodiment illustrated. Each battery 13 comprises anonconductive cylindrical tube 15 filled with flat thin circular discs16 of hygroscopic material, such as paper, each coated on one side witha layer of manganese peroxide and on the other side with a layer ofzinc, both of which materials are applied in the form of finely-dividedpowder to the surfaces of the paper discs and are made to adhere theretoby a suitable bonding material, such as dextrin, glue, starch, etc. Thediscs are placed in face-to-face contact to form a galvanic pile fillingthe tube 15, enough pressure being applied to the ends of the pile tomaintain good electrical contact between adjacent discs. Each disc 16 isan individual primary cell, the electrolyte of which is providedprincipally by moisture hygroscopically contained within the paper disc,such moisture being suicient in amount to provide the necessary chemicalaction, but not so great as to cause too rapid deterioration of thecell.

The ends of the tubes are covered and sealed against the admission ofmoisture, as by caps 19 of conductive material removably secured to thetubes, as by screws 20.

A cross-bar 21 of non-conductive material extends horizontally acrossthe upper ends of battery posts 13 so as to rigidly connect the same andto form a sturdy horizontal supporting beam from which the clockmechanism may be suspended. The cross-bar 21 is removably attached tothe upper caps 19 by threaded members 22.

Flat bar members 23 of conductive material are interposed between upperclosure caps 19 and cross-bar 21 and extend inwardly and are turned downat their inner ends to provide supports for the movable electrodecontact members 24. Contact members 24 are elongated at strap members ofconductive material hooked at their upper ends. The hooked ends rest onknife-edges 25 formed on the lower edges of openings 26 provided in theturned-down ends of the bar members 23, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 4,employing a simple swinging pendulum comprising a pendulum weightsupported by a wire, an irregular U-shaped support member 27, turnedsidewise, has its upper horizontal portion 28 secured to the center ofcross-bar 21 by a threaded member 29, and its vertical base portion 30positioned forward of the plane containing batteries 13. The supportmember 27 supports the entire clock mechanism, and is braced at itslower end by lateral members 32 which extend horizontally from each sideof the lower horizontal portion (not shown) of U-shaped member 27 to thesides of batteries 13. The ends of members 32 curve partially around thecylindrical battery housings, thus providing sturdy lateral support.

The face of the clock comprises a flat ring 33, which is secured in anysuitable manner to the vertical base portion 30 of U-s'naped member 27,and carries the numerals on its forward face.

The main shaft 34 projects through the central openin g in the annularface of the clock and has a minute hand attached in conventional mannerto its outer end. The forward part of main shaft 34 is journaled in thevertical portion 30 of U-shaped member 27, and the rear part isjournaled in an elongated vertical support member 35 which is attachedat its lower end to the rear face of vertical portion 30 by means ofscrews 36 and spacers 37, shown in Fig. 2.

A conventional gear train located just forward of the front face ofportion 30, and generally indicated at 38, is connected to both shaft 34and the hour hand rotatably mounted thereon.

A ratchet-wheel 39 is rigidly secured to shaft 34 near its back end, andjust forward of the vertical support member 35. The ratchet-pawl 40 ofthe ratchetwheel is pivotally connected at 41 to an upwardly extendingelongated bar 42 of non-conductive material. Bar 42 is rotatably mountedon the shaft 34 just forward of the ratchet-wheel 39. A ratchet-dog 43,which serves to prevent reverse rotary motion of the ratchet-wheel whenthe ratchet-pawl is dragged over the toothed surface to engage a newtooth, is pivotally connected at 44 to the free outer end of a bracket45 which is attached at its inner end to the support member 35.

The lower end of elongated bar 42 is bifurcated, the branches 46 of thebifurcated portion extending downwardly on either side of the uppermostof spacers 37, and

serving both to limit rotation of bar 42 to a relatively small arc oneither side of the vertical, and to substantially counter-balance theupper elongated portion. The bar 42 is just slightly top-heavy, so thatit may exert a slight force against the electrodes 2S when it reachescach end of its arcuate path.

A hollow conductive cylinder 47 having its axis horizontal is attachedto the upper end of bar 42, a tab portion 4 8 being turned downward fromthe bottom side of the cylinder and secured to the bar 42 by a screw 49.A tlat elongated member 50 has an upturned end attached, as by screw 51,to the upper end of bar 42. Member 50 projects horizontally through thecylinder 47 to a point a substantial distance rearward of the cylinder.The free end of member 50 is forked so as to receive a pendulum wire.

A simple pendulum, generally indicated by the numeral 52, is suspendedat the rear end of upper horizontal portion 28 of U-shaped member 27.The upper portion of the pendulum 52 comprises a wire 53, and the lowerportion comprises an elongated rigid tubular member 54.

The upper end of wire 53 is held in a clamping device removably attachedto member 2S. The lower end of wire 53 is adjustably held in a secondclamping device attached to the upper end of tubular member 54. Thependulum wire has attached thereto at an intermediate position along itslength a clamp member 82, forming a wear block adapted to be positionedbetween the tines of forked member 50 and engageable therewith to carrythe forked member and its associated cylinder 47 back and forth with theoscillation of the pendulum.

The lower end of tubular portion 54 of the pendulum 52 is provided witha diametrical pin 66, from which the pendulum weight, generallyindicated by the numeral 67, is suspended by means of hook member 68attached to the weight. The weight 67 may be of any convenient shape.

The operation of the clock is as follows: The electrode bar members 23,which are made adjustable by being slotted at their outer ends wherethey are clamped to the battery posts 13, are initially set so that thehanging contact members 24 are engaged by the oscillating cylinder 47just before it reaches the end of its path of movement. The momentum ofthe pendulum 52 transmitted through the forked member 50 and thecylinder 47 is sucient to deflect the contact member 24, causing it torotate slightly on the knife-edge 25. The resistance of the Contactmember to such rotation is insufficient to cause any appreciable bendingof the pendulum wire 53. The deflection of the contact member serves atwo-fold useful purpose. First, it provides a good electrical contactbecause the contact member rests by force of gravity against the surfaceof the cylinder while the latter completes the final portion of itsmovement; and, second, the weight of the contact member leaning againstthe cylinder, even though slight, causes a portion of the initialacceleration of the pendulum to be supplied by the weight of the Contactmember. This accelerating force is in addition to the force of repulsioncreated between cylinder and contact member as soon as the former givesup its charge to the latter and they both acquire the same polarity.

Since the battery terminals or contacts 24 are always oppositelycharged, the insulated conductive cylinder 47 picks up the charge of oneand carries it to the other. As soon as the cylinder picks up a chargefrom one of the contacts 24 it is repelled by it, because of thesimilarity of charges. As it nears the opposite contact 24 with thisacquired charge it is attracted strongly toward it by the dissimilarityof charges. Their engagement is accelerated by such attraction, but assoon as physical contact is effected the cylinder loses its charge tothe contact member and receives from it a charge of opposite polarity,whereupon it is again repelled. The repeated impulses given to thependulum through the linkage connecting the cylinder and the pendulumwire serves to compensate for or overcome the forces tending to preventthe pendulum from swinging indefinitely.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5to 9, l have shown a modified form of simple pendulum. Instead of theU-shaped support member 27 1 attach to the cross-bar 21 at its center aninverted L-shaped member 101 having its short branch restinghorizontally on the cross-bar 21 and its long branch extendingdownwardly in front of the cross-bar. The longer branch is broadened atits lower end so as to provide a supporting structure for the clockmechanism and for the pendulum.

Extending rearwardly from the lower end of the vertical branch ofL-shaped member 101 are a horizontally spaced pair of parallel spacersleeves 102. Screws 103 passing through member 101 and sleeves 102support a rear bearing block 104. Member 101 and member 104 are providedwith alined bearing openings 105 and 106, respectively, closed at theirouter ends by cover plates 107 held against the members 101 and 104 bythe screws 103.

An elongated pendulum bar 108 of non-conductive material passesvertically between the spaced sleeves 102 and has axed thereto at anintermediate point a knifeedged pivot bar 109. Pivot bar 109 passeslaterally through pendulum bar 108 from front to back and has its endsresting within the bearing openings 105 and 106. If the pendulum bar isfabricated from relatively-soft plastic or other material, the pivot barmay be set in a plate of harder material, such as plate 110 secured tothe pendulum by a screw 111.

The lower end of pendulum bar 108 carries a longitudinally adjustablependulum weight 112, and the upper end of the pendulum has attachedthereto, as by screw 113, a hollow conductive cylinder 114. The pendulumbar also carries, at a point intermediate the cylinder 114 and the pivotbar 109, a pin member 115 projecting forwardly from the front face ofthe pendulum. The pin 115 is oscillated along an arcuate path bymovement of the pendulum and engages intermittently at the middle of itspath of movement a bell-crank member 116 pivotally supported by pivotpin 117 mounted at one end in the member 101 and extending rearwardlytherefrom.

Bell-crank 116 has a generally horizontal arm 110 having adownwardly-extending V-shaped projection 119 at its outer end, and avertical arm 120 carrying a pivotally mounted feeding-pawl 121 at itsupper end. As the pin 115 moves back and forth it engages the projection119 and momentarily raises the bell-crank arm 118. In known manner, andby conventional means, generally indicated by the gear train 122, themovement of the crank arm is transmitted to the hands 123 of the clock,the face of which is indicated by the numeral 124.

The pendulum is so balanced that the slightly major portion of itsweight is below the knife-edge pivot 109. As the pendulum rocks back andforth, the hollow cylinder 114 engages the movable contact members 125similar in function if not identical in design to the Contact members ofFigs. l to 4.

Since the pendulum of Figs. 5 to 9 has a shorter radius than thatillustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 it will oscillate more rapidly than thesimple wire pendulum of Figs. l to 4, having its pivot point at the topof the clock. The solid bar pendulum has a decided advantage over thespring wire type of pendulum in one respect, however. It is not asseriously affected by atmospheric conditions, such as changes intemperature. The solid bar pendulum will have a shorter period ofoscillation than the pendulum type shown in Fig. 1, but this is notconsidered a disadvantage.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clock having a ratchet and pawl for actuating same, a pendulumbar provided with means whereby it is vertically suspended and adaptedto oscillate about a xed horizontal axis at a point spaced along saidbar a short distance above its center of gravity, means for effectingintermittent driving engagement between the ratchet and pawl in responseto the oscillations of said pendulum, an electrically conductive membercarried by said pendulum bar and insulated therefrom, said member beingarranged to oscillate with the pendulum along an arcuate path, batterymeans for delivering electrostatic charges of opposite polarity, rigidconductors extending from the terminals of the battery means tolocations spaced above the ends of said arcuate path, rigid contactmembers pivotally suspended by their upper ends from the ends of saidconductors and having their lower ends in such position as to be engagedand slightly displaced by said electrically conductive member as itnears the ends of said arcuate path.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim l including a horizontal pin projectingfrom said pendulum, and a bell-crank pivotally supported on theframework of said clock, one end of said bell-crank being engageable bysaid pin each time said pendulum passes the midpoint of its path,thereby effecting a slight angular displacement of said bellcrank, andthe other end pivotally supporting said pawl.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which said bell-crank is arranged toreturn by force of gravity to its initial position after each angulardisplacement by said pin.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said conductors are strap membersturned downwardly at their free ends and provided with horizontal slotsin the turned-down portions, said contact members being hooked at theirupper ends through said slots.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 749,775La Cour Jan. 19, 1904 1,910,434 Hayes May 23, 1933 2,625,787 Reiner Jan.20, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 613,027 France Aug. 13, 1926

